Colossians1
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ that are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,
5because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
6which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
7even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
8who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;
12giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
13who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
14in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins:
15who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
16for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;
17and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.
18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;
20and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.
21And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,
22yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:
23if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.
24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;
25whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,
26even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,
27to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;
29whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Colossians 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle Paul salutes the Colossians, and blesses God for their faith, love, and hope. (1–8). Prays for their fruitfulness in spiritual knowledge. (9–14). Gives a glorious view of Christ. (15–23). And sets out his own character, as the apostle of the Gentiles. (24–29).
vv1-8
All true Christians are brethren one to another. Faithfulness runs through every character and relation of the Christian life. Faith, hope, and love, are the three principal graces in the Christian life, and proper matter for prayer and thanksgiving. The more we fix our hopes on the reward in the other world, the more free shall we be in doing good with our earthly treasure. It was treasured up for them, no enemy could deprive them of it. The gospel is the word of truth, and we may safely venture our souls upon it. And all who hear the word of the gospel, ought to bring forth the fruit of the gospel, obey it, and have their principles and lives formed according to it. Worldly love arises, either from views of interest or from likeness in manners; carnal love, from the appetite for pleasure. To these, something corrupt, selfish, and base always cleaves. But Christian love arises from the Holy Spirit, and is full of holiness. (Col 1:9-14)
vv9-14
The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom. Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires. The grace of God in the hearts of believers is the power of God; and there is glory in this power. The special use of this strength was for sufferings. There is work to be done, even when we are suffering. Amidst all their trials they gave thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus, whose special grace fitted them to partake of the inheritance provided for the saints. To bring about this change, those were made willing subjects of Christ, who were slaves of Satan. All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are prepared for heaven now. Those who have the inheritance of sons, have the education of sons, and the disposition of sons. By faith in Christ they enjoyed this redemption, as the purchase of his atoning blood, whereby forgiveness of sins, and all other spiritual blessings were bestowed. Surely then we shall deem it a favour to be delivered from Satan's kingdom and brought into that of Christ, knowing that all trials will soon end, and that every believer will be found among those who come out of great tribulation.
vv15-23
Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things being created by Him, were created for him; being made by his power, they were made according to his pleasure, and for his praise and glory. He not only created them all at first, but it is by the word of his power that they are upheld. Christ as Mediator is the Head of the body, the church; all grace and strength are from him; and the church is his body. All fulness dwells in him; a fulness of merit and righteousness, of strength and grace for us. God showed his justice in requiring full satisfaction. This mode of redeeming mankind by the death of Christ was most suitable. Here is presented to our view the method of being reconciled. And that, notwithstanding the hatred of sin on God's part, it pleased God to reconcile fallen man to himself. If convinced that we were enemies in our minds by wicked works, and that we are now reconciled to God by the sacrifice and death of Christ in our nature, we shall not attempt to explain away, nor yet think fully to comprehend these mysteries; but we shall see the glory of this plan of redemption, and rejoice in the hope set before us. If this be so, that God's love is so great to us, what shall we do now for God? Be frequent in prayer, and abound in holy duties; and live no more to yourselves, but to Christ. Christ died for us. But wherefore? That we should still live in sin? No; but that we should die to sin, and live henceforth not to ourselves, but to Him.
Key Words
Παῦλος (Paûlos): (little; but remotely from a derivative of G3973 (παύω), meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle
ἀπόστολος (apóstolos): a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
διά (diá): through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
θέλημα (thélēma): a determination (properly, the thing), i.e. (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Τιμόθεος (Timótheos): dear to God; Timotheus, a Christian
ἀδελφός (adelphós): a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1 (Α))
Cross References
Colossians 1Verbal parallel: 'In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.'
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ is the express image (charakter) and shining forth of the invisible God's glory.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
All things were made by Him, confirming His pre-existent agency in the creation of all things.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel structure on reconciliation of former enemies in one body through the cross.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallels deliverance from the power of darkness to the inheritance of saints in light.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ as the 'firstborn' (prototokos) among many brethren, relating to His supremacy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Expands on the 'fulness' dwelling in Christ, defining it as the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Identical purpose of redemption: to present believers holy and unblameable before Him.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Exposition of the hidden mystery of the Gospel now revealed to the Gentiles.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Identifies Epaphras as Paul's 'fellow prisoner' and faithful representative of the Colossian church.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ appointed as the supreme Head over all things to His body, the church.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Of His fullness we have all received, matching the Father's pleasure that fullness dwell in Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The foundational doctrine of reconciliation of all things to God through Jesus Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Classic formulation of reconciliation while we were yet enemies of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The corporate goal of Christ presenting the Church to Himself without spot or wrinkle.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Doxology celebrating the mystery kept secret since the world began but now manifest.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Identical twin Epistle thanksgiving for their faith in Christ and love to all saints.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicitly names Christ as 'the image of God' (eikon tou theou).
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Underpins Christ's pre-existence before all creation, analogous to Wisdom's origin in Proverbs.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ designated as the 'first begotten' and 'firstborn from the dead' (prototokos).
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Applies the general peace-making reconciliation of verse 20 specifically to the Colossians.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Exposes the nature of the carnal mind as active enmity against God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Paul being made a minister according to the gift of grace and working of power.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Paul's exhortation to share in the afflictions of Christ according to God's power.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallels 'the hope' of the calling and 'the riches of the glory of his inheritance.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
The eschatological witness of the Gospel going forth into 'all the world.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Verbal echo of 'the hope of the gospel' previously laid up in heaven.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Rejoicing in sharing the sufferings of Christ, anticipating future glory.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
The abundance of Christ's sufferings in us, which worketh consolation for the body.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Demonstrates Paul's actual 'striving' (agon) and great conflict for the Colossians.
Supported by JFB